Sign.



Specification of Letters Patent. Application filed Ju1y 20.1906. Serial No. 328.978.

Patented Nov. 19, 1907.

To all whom it may concern:

Bait-known that 1, WILLIAM M. KERR, a

citizen of the United States, residing at Stamford, in the county of Fairfield and State of r 5 Connecticut, have invented new and useful Improvements in Signs, of which the followin is aspecification.

he invention relates to signs and more particularlyto illuminated signs, although,

-.0 in some of its aspects, the invention may beada table to si as generally.

jects-oft e invention are to provide a sign structure which is of attractive appearance, simple construction and economical of 1 5 mapufacture; to provide a sign structure which permits of the matter to be displayed quickly and readily changed, or removed land replaced; ,to provide a casing which allows easy access to and mini ulation ofthe membcrbearing the displaye matter, andwhich at the same time may be tightly closed .for protection a ainst the elements, dust, and otherwise. 'Ihese and other obiectsof invention will in part be obvious rom, and will in part be particularly pointed out, in the description and claims.

The invention consists in the novel parts, articles, arrangements, improvements and combinations'herein shown and described.

8 The accompanying drawings, referred to herein and formi'n a part hereof, illustrate .4 a groove for the s one; embodiment o the invention the same serving in connectionwith the description herein to explain the principles of the invention.

' 01' the drawings: Figure 1 is a general perspective view of a sign structure constructed some of'the principles of the invention; Fig. 2 is' a similar view of one of thedesign-carrying members partly withdrawn and with the cap plate removed Fig. -3 is? a detail 'showin one form of fastening means for holding the cap plate and-casing together; and Fig. 4 is a sectional view of a detail of the construction.

' It is desirable in sign structures to provide a structure which, while attractive to the eye and while'of substantially simple and economical construction, admits of the displayed matter beingreadily changed and also provides for protecting the structure from the elements. This is perhaps especially true of illuminated signs.

This invention contemplates the. providing of a sign structure which realizes the ob,- jects of invention and advantages herein set forth, to other with other objects and advan tages. he design-carryin member which bears the matter to be disp ayed is shown in the accompanying drawings as being removably supported in the case, such casing being shown in the drawings as adapted for holding a source of light so that in conjunction with a design-carrying member of suitable material the matter displayed upon the sign structure herein shown as structed in accordance with the principles of the invention. comprises a design-carrying slide 1 which, according to certain features 0 the invention, maybe of a transparent or translucent material, many such materials being well known, such as ound or polished glass, paper, or other suita le material. For I the purpose of holdingthis slide, a casing 2 is provided, herein shown as of rectangular orm, although according to certain features of the invention the particular form thereof is immaterial. Said casing is shown as having a portion 3 provided with a lip 4, cod structed and arranged to receive and hold the design-carryin slide. A suitable device 1 may also be provi ed for assisting in uiding the slide 1 inwardly or outwardly wit referme be visible at ni ht as well as b da 'l he g conence to the casing. In Fig. 4 of the draw ingls such a guide device is shown substantia ly as 'a lip arranged to form with the part de 1, and is indicated by the reference numeral 5. The said cas' s further' shownas having in addition to he portion 3 another portion 6 which is somewhat narrower in width than the orti'on 3 so Iasto permit the design-carrying s ide to he "slid ast it into and out of engagement with the-j ".4. I as In ..2 of the drawings, wherein the easing is shown as being provided with a design-carryingi slide upon either side, one of the slides iss own as being partlywithdrawn, illustrating the manner in which the slides readily pass the narrower portion 6 of the. casing. By. reason of this structure it will be noted that the portion 6 together with the portion 3 forms a continuous casing which gives great strength and ri to the material used an while be' simple audinexpcnsive of manufactures. here m'a be provided, if desired, in the portion 6 of he easing finger holes 7 for-use in .withdrawing the slide, such an rra gement fur- 110 and certain manner 0 61F I m g 95 gaging the all e and withdrawing it. until it idity as compared thereof and at the corner of tl'ie-casin'g.

may be engaged by the hand. exteriorly t0 the casing. There is also provided by the invention, for the purpose of protecting the structure against the elements, and from the dust of the street, and also conducing toward a neat and attractive appearance, which latter is of great importance in connection with signs and display matter generally, a cap late 8 which is constructed. and arranged to. t closely over the narrower portion ofthe casing and over the end of a design-carrying slide, or slides carried by the casing. A suitable fastening device for said cap plate is provided which may be of any approved and convenient form. One forn thereof, shown the 'said flange. Where the casing is of rectangular form the lip 4 will generally be car- .ried by three sides of the casing, and projeet-' ing inwardly therefrom, and the fourthside,

, which is the narrower side past which the de- ,sign-oarrying slides lliOVG inwardly and out- WBJ'dlY GMTiCS the raised flange at one end This arrangement is the one shown in the draw ings herewith, the end'12 of the cap plate in such case being adaptedto fit closely beneath Theeap plate is also prefer-- the flange 11. ably provided with a lip 13 corresponding to the lip upon the other three sides ofthe cas-' ing. The ca 1 plate 8 isfurther'shown in the drawings as aving at, theend oppositethe end 12 a lip 14 adapted to pass over, or into. engagement with, the contiguous side of the casing although in some cases-it may be' found convenient to omit the said lip.

Suitable devices 'for providing ventilation, or for the escape of heated air from the easing, as well as devices for supporting the casing in a. suspended position, may be providcd.- Such devices are not illustrated heroin, however, as forms thereof are well known. and, simply, as such, theyforin no part of this invention.

From all theloregoi'n which realizes the objects of invention and advantages set forth, together with other other objects andndvantages.

The invention, inits broar'lcr aspects, not limited to the particularconstructions shown, nor to any particular constructions by which it has been or may be carried into cited, as many changes may be made in the havinga part con structed and arranged to it closely beneath it will be under stood that a structure has been provided construction without departing from; the main principles of the invention as set forth in the appended claims, and without sacri' licing its chief advantages.

sire to secureby Letters Patent, is:

' 1. A sign structure. including in combinationa design-carrying slide, a. casing for'hold- What 1 do claim as invinvontion and deing said slide, a portion of said casing havingv a lip constructed and arranged to receive a'nd hold the said design-carrying slide and ii-notlic portion thereof being'narrower so as to pernnt the design-carrying slide to he slid past into and out of engagement with thelip, a flange-"upon the said casing, and a cap plate constructed and arran ed to fit closclyovcr the narrow portion of t m casing v and over the endof the slide and also lliIVlIW a part adapted to fit closely beneatli' saidflange. v

2. A sign structure including in combination a design-carrying slide, a casing for bolding said slide, a portion of said casing having a lip constructed and arranged to i'eceive .and hold the said design-carrying slide-and another portion thereof being narrower so as to permit the design carrying slide to he slid past into and out of engagement with the lip, a flange upon the saidcasing, a cap plate, constructed and arraiwed' to fit closely over the narrowportion of t 1e casing and over the I end of the slide and also having a part adapted to fit closely beneath Siti(lll2lllgt-, illl( a fasten i ing device for holding the cap and casing togetl'ier.

tion a'designwarrying slide, a rectangular casing having upon threesides an inwardly, projecting lip' and the fourth side being narrowed so as to'permit the slide to lie-slid into and out of position beneath the said lip, a raised'flange on said fourth side at tl e edge of the casing, cap plate havinga lip corres'ponding to the flange upon the casing and having an end ada ted to fit closely beneath the said flangqsai cap plate being also-constructedand arranged to fit closely over the fourth. side and over the end of the -slide, I

and means for fastening said cap' plate and casing together." 1

4. A signstructnre including in ooiribination a design-carryingshde, a casing topholds ing said slide, aportion of said ca'singl a 'n'g alip construe-ted and arrang'ed'- can; QIYG. and hold the said. design-carrying slide and also having a narrower portiono'f such widtli as to {pernnjt 1 the 'designearr. mg slide to be .lidjpastht into and out o engagement w itli the lip, said narrower portion .alsqhav ol the casin and'over the end of the slides so as to render, the casmgproof against the elements.

ii-rg' a finger holegfor use in withdrawiii the slide, and a cap lat'e eonstruetodfan ar -ran ed to fitcloso' y'over the narrow portion x y I 100 3. A sign structure including in con binmq "rowed 5. A sign structure including in combination a design-carrying slide, a rei-tzingulei' casing having upon three sides an inwmxlly piojecting lip and the fourth side being nerso as to permit the said ll(!5%lll-Uill ing slide to be slid into and out of position 'Within the said lip, said fourth side being also provided with n finger hole for use in Withdi'awmg the slide, it raised hinge on said fourth side at the edge of the casing, it cap 1 plate having a lip corresponding to the lip upon the casing and having an end adapted to I \Vitnessos:

E. l. BELL, S. E. Minnnn. 

